Steering-wheel.



air. I BB. 12, .APPL

II. S. HILL.

STEERING WHEEL.

APPLICATION H'Lm) P21112, 1914.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- STATES PATENT oFrioE.

' ri *"lijissnsfsi maar passasse.. martire.'

I 'i p spammen of mais Patent. Application led February 12, 1914. Serial No. 818,213. v

STEERING-weisst ratentediuan s1, 1914*.

T allwhom tmc concern.' A v Be it known t atI', JOSEPH S. HILL, -a

citizen 4of the United States', residing at Bethesda, in the county of Montgomery and 'State'of Maryland, have invented cer-- tain new anduseful Improvements in -Steering-Wheels; and I do hereby declare -the 'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such -as will enable others skilled in the art to which it' appertains to make and use the same.

An object of this invention is the provi-- partly broken away, showing a steering wheel constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents an `enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the spokes of the wheel.l Fig. 3 represents a `similar view of one of the handles or rim fied form of grip radially attached to thev ordinary type of steering wheel. Fig. 7 4represents a horizontal sectional view through the modification of the invention disclosed in Fig. 6.' Fig. 8 represents a sectional view of line 8 8 of Fig. 5, and, Fig. 9 represents a modification of the handle or the grip illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring 4'to the drawing in detail, the

I numeral 10 indicates the hub of the steering wheel which is adapted to be secured to the steering rod or shaft in any approved manner and carries a plurality of radially projecting arms or spokes 11. .The outer ends of the spokes 11 are enlarged and formed.

on each side with laterally projecting pairs `of ears 12 having suitable apertures 13 therethrough. The handles or grips 14 are each formed thereof and having the adjacent vfaces concaved to provide a housing for the electrical heating device hereinafter referred to. The

in'two parts divided ina plane longitudinal ends of each part of each grip are reduced and squared at 15 -and aperturedfto be snugly received.y between the ears 12' of the heads of the spokes'. vSuitable screwsor-the like 16 aref positioned through the apertures inthe ears 12 and thel ends 15 for securing the handles or v,grips 14 in operative position.

A suitable electric light bulb 16 is secured in a'socket 17 carried'by one art of the handles or grips 14', and is pre erably pro? vided with a carbon filament 18, as this typelof lamp generates greater heat than the improved tungsten and similar lamps. A suitable spring 19 is secured adjacent the end of the handle 14 opposite the socket 17 and receives the pointed end of the bulb 16 for rigidly securing the latter in position against vibrating or knocking against the walls of its housing. Suitable-conducting wires 2O are connected With the socket 17 forvsupplying electric current to the filaments 18, and these conductors are extended through the spokes 11 and the steering rod or on the outside thereof and are suitably connected with the source of electromotive handles or grips 14 may be formed perforatev or imperforate as desired but in either instance it is clearly apparent that suilicient heat will radiate or penetrate them to warm the hands of the driver of the vehicle. The handles. or grips 14 are preferably of the shape illustrated in Fig. 1 and are substantially circular in cross section and gradually tapered from the medial portion to the opposite ends thereof whereby a irmv and natural grip may be obtained thereon with the hand. It will be understood that any one or more of the grips of the wheel may beequipped with the electric heating device shown.

-Referring to Fig. 5 Iwherein is shown a lmodification of the invention, vthe numeral rically opposite sides of which are secured radially projecting grips 32 divided in a longitudinal Aplane similar to the handles 14 to provide a suitable housing for a similarly electric globe or bulb 16. The inner ends of the grips 32 are concave and en-k larged laterally as shown at 33 and secured to the rim 81 by suitable screws 4 and the outer e nds thereof are secured together by a suitable screw 35. Electrical conductors 20 by means of which the lamp 16 is supplied with electric current are entered through suitable openings 36 in the handles or grips 32. v

In Figs. 6, 7 and 9, a further modiication of the invention is' disclosed wherein the grips 40 are secured on the outer ends and disposed at right angles to the shanks 41 secured at 42 in a radial plane of the wheel.

What l claim is l. A? steering wheel having a hub and a plurality of spokes; a plurality of hollow hand grips operatively mounted between and connected tothe ends of the spokes to form the rim of the wheel, and a heating element disposed within .the grips.

y2. Av steering wheel having a hub and a plurality of spokes the rim o-said wheel consisting of a plurality' of hollow hand grips removably connected to the ends of the spokes, and a heating element disposed within said grips.

3. A steering wheel comprising a hub a plurality of spokes'and a rim, the said rim consisting of a plurality of hand grips operatively connected to the outer endsof the spokes, said grips being formed of two concavo-convex members whereby when they are joined together a cavity will be provided between them, -and a heating element operatively mounted within said cavity.

Leonesa 4. A steering wheel having a hub and a plurality of spokes 5, a rim or said wheel made up of a plurality of hollow hand grips operatively connected to the spokes, and means to removably dispose within the hol- 4o low hand grips a suitableA heating element.

5. In a steering wheel, a hub carrying a plurality of spokes, and two part grips removably held between adjacent spokes.

6. In a steering wheel, a hub carrying a 46 plurality of spokes, each spoke having a transverse slotted portion, and two art grips removably held inthe slotted portions of adjacent spokes.

7. An electrically heated steering wheel 50 comprising a hub carrying a plurality of spokes, each spoke having av transverse slotted portion two part grips-,removably held in the slotted portions of adjacent spokes, and heating means within certain of the grips.

8. An lelectrically heated steering wheel comprising a hub carrying a plurality Iof spokes, each spoke having a transverse slotted portion` two' part grips removably 6U- held in the s otted portions of adjacent spokes, and a resiliently supported heating element within certain of the grips.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH S. HLL.

Witnesses:

S, W. COGKRELL, W. T. Frrz GERALD. 

